Garment-hanger



H. M. GOULD.

GARMENT HANGER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1919. RENEWED SEPT 19, 1919.

1 ,336 ,429, Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

HARRY M. GOULD, 0F PORTLAND, MAINE.

GARMENT-HANGER.

Application filed February 10, 1919, Serial No. 275,994. Renewed September 19, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ITARRY M. GOULD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the count of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment- Hangers, of which the following is a specitication.

My invention relates to a garment or coat hanger and the object of the invention is to produce a device of this character which may be cheaply constructed and closely folded into a small package so that it can be readily arried in a traveling bag or other like receptacle.

My garment hanger is formed of a series of blocks preferably made of wood abutted together to form a continuous rod having the desired contour, the blocks being pivotally connected so that they will fold together in one direction only. In other words, the jointed bar may be folded or rolled up in one direction while being rigid in the other direction. Thus the bar, while being sufficiently rigid to sustain the garment the weight of which is pressing on the upper side, may be rolled or folded together in an upward direction into a compact pack age which may be slipped into a suitable box.

I illustrate my invention by means of the accompanying drawing in which is shown the preferable form of my device.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure l is a side elevation of the hanger in extended position.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with the connecting strip cut away at one end Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the arms of the hanger reduced in length to fit small garments and,

Fig. t shows the hanger in folded position.

Referring to the drawing, 1, 1, represents a series of blocks abuttedtogether to form a bar having the necessary curve for a coat hanger. The blocks are preferably of wood and at their adjacent or abutting edges they are tongued or headed and grooved so that they will be prevented from sliding vertically on each other. The blocks are pivotally connected so that adjacent blocks may be folded on each other in an upward direction but will resist any tendency to bend downward.

As herein shown, the blocks are pivotally Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 324,992.

connected and the bar is completed by a strip of flexible material 3 which is secured to the upper surface of the bar being preferably glued or cemented to the upper surfaces of the blocks.

In order to increase the rigidity of the bar, the abutting tongued or beaded and grooved forming beads as 2 which fit into corresponding grooves.

The hanger is suspended by a hook 4: which has an upright shank with a hook at its upper end, this hook extends through the central block and has a washer 5 on its lower end so that it can be rotated while in position. The hook may thus be turned to extend across the bar as when it is folded or it may be turned to a position parallel with the bar when in use as a hanger.

As shown in Fig. 3, the ends may be turned back to form a short bar suitable for small garments or it may be folded into the form shown in Fig. 4-, the two sides being doubled and folded on the central block and inclosing the hook.

The hanger thus forms an oblong pack age which may be slipped into a small box and conveniently carried.

The necessary curve of the bar to form a coat hanger is given by making the lower portion of each block slightly narrower than the upper portion and this may be done when the strips of which the blocks are made are run through the molding or sticking machine.

The device is cheaply manufactured by laying a series of tongued and grooved strips together forming a body the width desired for the length of the bar or hanger and then gluing to the top of the assembled wood strips a strip of cloth. The bars are then sawed oflt' transversely from the body thus built up. The formation of the blocks brings them to the necessary curve.

This coat hanger may be made to sell in the ten cent trade if desired and is a substantial device capable of sustaining the heaviest garment.

In removing the hanger from the coat it is only necessary to take hold of the center and by pulling down, the entire structure collapses without the usual awkward motions.

It is evident that this hanger may be otherwise constructed than as here shown while keeping within the terms of the ap edges of the blocks are.

pended claim as, for instance, making each section much longer than here shown so that the hanger will contain fewer pieces.

I claim:

A folding garment hanger including a series of blocks abutted together to form a narrow continuous bar, the abutting faces of said blocks having interlocking projections and recesses, a strip of flexible material secured to the upper face of said bar to pivotally connect said blocks and a suspending hook secured to one of the central blocks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY M. GOULD. 

